Pre-Export Verification of Conformity / PVoC
PVoC stands for Pre-Export Verification of Conformity. In some countries, including Kenya, Cameroon and Tanzania, a check of the declaration of conformity must be performed before importing into the respective countries.
The PVoC for Africa ensures that the products meet the mandatory safety and quality requirements and thus enable international trade. PVoC helps avoid customs delays and potential losses from importing non-compliant products can be avoided.
This certificate must be issued in the exporting country.

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Certification process
Cameroon:
The certificate required for Cameroon is called Pre-Shipment Evaluation of Conformity (PECAE) which is a program that was introduced in 2016 by L’Agence des Normes et de la Qualité (ANOR).
The products to be imported are checked and tested in the exporting country and then the certificate of conformity (CoC) is issued to demonstrate that the product complies with the applicable standards.
The following requirements apply to Cameroon:
- Exporters must receive the Attestation of Conformity (AoC) for each shipment of regulated goods
- The AoC can only be obtained from an approved inspection body
- The Aoc is submitted to ANOR, which then issues the certificate of conformity (CoC)
- The CoC is required for customs clearance
Kenya:
The certificate in Kenya is called Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) and was introduced by the Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS). A certificate of conformity (CoC) is required to import products to Kenya, this is a necessary release document for each shipment. The exporter is liable for all legal or economic consequences resulting from the shipment of goods without CoC.
The key elements of a PVoC for Kenya are:
- Physical inspection prior to shipping
- Sampling, testing and analysis in accredited laboratories
- Quality audit of production processes
- Documentary verification of compliance with regulations
- Assessment of conformity with Kenyan standards
Certification routes
Route A – Occasional Exports
- No registration
- Testing and inspection
- Issuance of CoC
Route B – Frequent exports
- Product registration
- Inspection and sample testing
- Issuance of CoC
Route C – Frequent exports and large series manufacturers
- Product licensing
- License check and sample inspection
- Issuance of CoC
Tanzania
In Tanzania, this certification is called Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC); this was introduced by the Tanzania’s Bureau of Standards (TBS). As part of the PVoC program, all regulated products to be imported are subjected to a review. A certificate of conformity (CoC) is then issued to demonstrate that they meet the requirements of the applicable national standards or technical regulations. The CoC is mandatory for customs clearance.
There are three possible ways to achieve PVoC certification depending on certain conditions, (for example type of product, homogeneity, frequency of shipments, quality management of the manufacturer).
Route A – For unregistered products (unregistered suppliers or manufacturers of sensitive goods).
- Products must be tested and physically inspected
Route B – For registered suppliers or manufacturers of goods
- Faster certification process for goods with an appropriate and consistent quality level
- Registration of products with the PVoC contractor
- Recommended for exporters who send homogeneous products
Route C – Licensed products
- Only available for manufacturers who can prove the existence of a quality management system in their manufacturing / production process
- Checking of Quality Management System (QMS) and licensing of products by the authorized PVoC contractor
- Available for manufacturers with high frequency shipments/high shipping volume
Country-specific requirements / authorities
The PVoC is available in several countries under different names:
Country | Certificate | Authority |
Cameroon | Pre-Shipment Evaluation of Conformity (PECAE) | L’Agence des Normes et de la Qualité (ANOR) |
Kenya | Pre-Export Verification of Conformity (PVoC) | Kenyan Bureau of Standards (KEBS) |
Tanzania | Pre-Shipment Verification of Conformity (PVoC) | Tanzania’s Bureau of Standards (TBS) |
More information
For more information on product certifications for Africa, call + 49-69-2713769 257 (Europe) or +1-773-6542673 (USA) today or email us.
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